The other great stupa of the Valley and indeed, the largest in all of Nepal, is BODHANATH stupa. It is situated on the flat land to the east of the Valley. BODHANATH'S great size and its red, white and blue – painted eyes give it a striking appearance. The great stupa of Bodnath was built in fifth century. The site around the present day stupa was an overnight camp of Tibetan businessmen. The Tibetan Merchants used to offer prayer at the site where there is stupa now. Today it is the principal centers of Tibetan culture outside of Tibet. Several Buddhist monasteries have been built up recently in the immediate vicinities of Boudhanath.
The periphery around the stupa is also popular for Tibetan Jewelry, hand-woven carpets, thankas, masks, khukuri knives and many more Tibetan products. A whole day can be spent over here observing the beauty of this huge stupa from different view –angles and the roof top restaurants.
Pashupatinath is Nepal’s most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the subcontinent’s great Shiva sites. The supreme holiness of the site stems from the Shiva lingam enshrined in its main temple and its location. It expresses the very essence of Hinduism as pilgrims, priests, devotes, temples, ashrams, images, inscriptions and cremation ghats intermingle with the rituals of daily life, all sprawled along the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. The temple’s origins are obscure, an inscription dates from 477, but a shrine may have stood here for 1000 years before that. Non Hindu are not allowed to enter premised of the temple.
Pick up/Meeting point: hotel lobby at 9.00am and 2.00pm
Duration: 3-4 hrs.
Start or opening time:9:30am, 2:30pm
End or closing time:1.00pm, 6.00pm
Languages:English
Others: Entrance Fees no included.
IExplore the stunning Shivapuri National Park in the Kathmandu Valley and visit the famous Budhanikantha Temple along the way. This full day hike takes allows you to discover the great outdoors at the foothills of the roof of the world, admiring stunning scenery, lush landscapes and beautiful views.
After departing the capital, we reach the Budhanikantha Temple, which is about 8km north of Kathmandu. The temple is famous for large statue of the reclining Vishnu in a pond. It is often covered with a tarpaulin a metres above to protect it from the elements. Afterwards, continue uphill to the gates of the Shivapuri National Park.
This stunning natural forest is home to more than 500 species of animals and hundreds more of bird. Begin the hike from the park’s southern boundary. The park is also the source of the holy Bagmati River, which is considered the origin of Nepalese civilisation. Reach the Nagi Gumpa monastery, situated at an altitude of 2,330 metres. Here nuns pray to Buddha (Nepal is a predominantly Hindu country) and foreigners often come to meditate. Continue the steep hike through a narrow trail to Shivapuri.
After lunch, stroll around for a while, before taking a short cut downhill trail to Kopan for about two hours and drive back to Kathmandu. Total hiking time is between five and six hours.
The tour to Nagarkot shall leave you spell-bound as this place has become famous as one of the best spots to view Mount Everest as well as other snow-topped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. The place is known for panoramic 180 degree view of Himalayan peaks as the view from Nagarkot will leave one spell-bound. From any clear point on the ridge, you can take in a panorama, from Dhaulagiri in the west to Mt Everest and Kanchenjunga in the east, via Ganesh Himal (7406m), Langtang Lirung (7246m), Shisha Pangma (8012m), Dorje Lakpa (6975m) and Gauri Shankar (7146m).
The tour of Kathmandu City (also known as Kantipur) includes visit to the temple of the Living Goddesses, who acknowledges the greetings of the devotees from the balcony of her temple residence. Kasthamandap-the source of the name Kathmandu Supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and the Durbar Square are with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace.
Continue to Swyambhunath, the most ancient and enigmatic of the Valley’s holy shrines the golden spired stupa of Swyambhunath tops a wooded hillock. Records of its history date as far as the 5th century, but its origins are believed to be older. It is the Kathmandu Valley’s most sacred Buddhist shrine and whilst its worshippers include the Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet, Newari Buddhists are the most fervent devotees.
Visit the ancient city of Patan, which happened to be a kingdom in itself once and is situated across the Bagmati River to the south of Kathmandu. The tour includes visit of Patan Durbar Square, temples and courtyards of Royal Palace.
The Durbar Square offers the finest display of Newari urban architecture in Nepal. The temples here devoted to Shiva, Krishna, Ganesh and Vishnu are actively visited by residents and visitors. At the northern end of the square the ancient sunken water tap has been restored and is still in use with young girls filling huge jugs from the carved stone waterspouts. The courtyards of the Royal Palace with their ornamented windows, columned arcades, shrines and sunken royal bath are amongst the loveliest in all Kathmandu.
Visit the Bhaktapur, which translates as the City of Devotees, and is considered as a museum of medieval art and architecture with many fine examples of sculpture, woodcarving and colossal pagoda temples consecrated to different gods and goddesses. Lying 14 km east of Kathmandu city, this place was founded in the 9th century and is shaped like a conch shell - one of the emblems of the god Vishnu. It is situated at the height of 4,600 ft above sea level.
Here you will visit the Durbar Square with its array of temples, Palace of 55 Windows built by King Bhupatindra Malla. The Nyatapola temple also built by King Bhupatindra Malla is one of the best example of Pagoda style architecture and features 5 colossal steps on each of which stands a pair of figures two famous strong men, two elephants, two lions, two griffins and two goddesses. Post completion of the tour, you shall be transferred back to your hotel of stay.
Start your tour by visiting the Dakshinkali Temple, dedicated to Hindu Goddess Kali, which is the fearful form of Lord Siva’s consort, Parvati. The main deity in the temple is the black stone, six-armed form of Kali, standing on a prostrated figure. Dakshinkali is at the south end of the valley between two hills and at the confluence of two rivers. Sacrifices are made two times a week at this temple. Saturday is the main day of animal sacrifices and a less important day is Tuesday.
Continue your tour and proceed to Chovar gorge, the only outlet for all the water of the valley. Legend has it that Manjushree, an ancient saint from China, cut the mountain with his magical sword to drain out the water from the Kathmandu Valley Lake to make it habitable. There is a small but picturesque temple of Adinath on the top of the hill with a magnificent view of the snowcapped peaks. Just beyond the gorge is a temple of Lord Ganesh. The main image of the shrine is a massive rock, naturally carved.
The tour ends with the visit of Kirtipur town, perched on twin hillocks and clinging to a saddle about 5 km southwest of Kathmandu. A long flight of steps leads up to Kirtipur from the valley floor & a motor able road goes part way up the hill. Steep paths link brick houses built on terraces are the main attraction here. The villagers dressed in traditional costume working on ancient looms are also sighted. The people here are well known for their strength and valor as many historical battles were fought and won by the inhabitants of Kirtipur. Post completion of the tour, you shall be transferred back to your hotel of stay.
Chovar gorge, the only outlet for all the water of the valley. Legend has it that Manjushree, an ancient saint from China, cut the mountain with his magical sword to drain out the water from the Kathmandu Valley Lake to make it habitable. There is a small but picturesque temple of Adinath on the top of the hill with a magnificent view of the snowcapped peaks. Just beyond the gorge is a temple of Lord Ganesh. The main image of the shrine is a massive rock, naturally carved.
The tour ends with the visit of Kirtipur town, perched on twin hillocks and clinging to a saddle about 5 km southwest of Kathmandu. A long flight of steps leads up to Kirtipur from the valley floor & a motor able road goes part way up the hill. Steep paths link brick houses built on terraces are the main attraction here. The villagers dressed in traditional costume working on ancient looms are also sighted. The people here are well known for their strength and valor as many historical battles were fought and won by the inhabitants of Kirtipur.
Begnas Lake, the second largest lake of Pokhara Valley is situated at an altitude of 650m. It is located in the Siswa village on the eastern part of Pokhara and is 13 km away from the Pokhara city. It covers an area of 3 sq. km. Average water depth of the lake is 9.37 and the maximum water depth is 13.84m. The capacity of the lake is 29.05 million cubic meter. It is comparatively deeper in the northern and western part in the comparison to eastern and southern part. The lake water is drained out by Khudi Khola from the western part.
Geologically the area is composed of slate and phyllite zone with beds of calcareous conglomerate and gravel deposits. The vegetation here is quite different than in other parts of Pokhara because here the major species on the southern aspect of the hills on the northern part of the lake is Shorea Robusta whereas the major species of the forest on the northern aspect of the hill lying on the southern part of the lake is Schima-Castonopsis. The forest is very dense on the northern and southern part of the lake whereas there is cultivation on the eastern part and fishery project on the western part.
Lunch at Begnas Lake Resort. Pick up/Meeting point: Hotel at 9.00am
Duration: 7 hrs.
Start or opening time:9.30am
End or closing time:4.30pm
Languages:English
Others: Entrance Fees not included.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
As you walk in, you cannot but be overcome by a feeling of inner harmony. Such is the art and architecture and the special layout here. The Palace of 55 Windows built during the period of King Bhupatindra Malla in 1754 situated to the left as you enter through the city gate, inspires admiration. The National Art Gallery is also housed inside. The palace entrance, the Golden Gate known as Sunko Dhoka in Nepali is a masterpiece in repose art. In front of the palace, building is a medley of temples of various designs. Amongst the three Durbar Squares in the Valley, the Durbar Square in Bhaktapur is the best preserved one.
Later sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath & Bouddhanath
Pashupatinath: This is Nepal’s most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the subcontinent’s great Shiva sites. The supreme holiness of the site stems from the Shiva lingam enshrined in its main temple and its location. It expresses the very essence of Hinduism as pilgrims, priests, devotes, temples, ashrams, images, inscriptions and cremation ghats intermingle with the rituals of daily life, all sprawled along the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. The temple’s origins are obscure, an inscription dates from 477, but a shrine may have stood here for 1000 years before that.
Bouddhanath: This great stupa is one of Nepal’s most distinctive monuments and one of the most important Buddhist sites in Nepal and, with a diameter of over 100 meters, amongst the largest in the world. There are a number of legends accounting for the stupa’s construction, but it is generally believed to date from the 5th century. All stupas contain holy relics and Boudha is said to contain the remains of the past Buddha Kasyapa. Boudha is a particular focus for Kathmandu’s Tibetan community and throughout the day there is a constant stream of people circling the stupa spinning prayer wheels and reciting mantras. Surrounding the stupa are six major monasteries and a host of smaller ones as well as cafes, restaurants and shops selling Tibetan carpets and Newari silversmiths.
In the morning you will be picked-up at your hotel by our driver and guide. The starting point of our hike is a 35 kilometre drive east of Kathmandu. Depending on the traffic this will take us between one and half and two hours. The starting point of our hike is the ancient Newar town Panauti. From here we hike to a place called Khoapasi. From Dhapasi we follow the uphill trail in north - east direction. The further we go the narrower the trail gets.
After we cross a suspension bridge we will pass through many small villages and huge rice fields which will give you a chance to see how Nepali people plant and harvest the crop, depending on the season. From here we hike steep uphill for about an hour to reach Namoboudha. After lunch continue walk in easy trails to Dhulikhel. Once we reach Dhulikel your driver will be waiting to drop you of at your hotel. Namoboudha is a sacred Buddhist place where Lord Buddha sacrificed his own body to save a starving tiger. At this typical Buddhist Gompa you can watch the rituals and at the same time have a great view over the mountains and deep down, Panauti. (Hiking Time: 5 - 6 hours).
Meeting/ Pick up point: Hotel.
Duration: 8 hours.
Start or opening time: 9.00am.
End or closing time: 5.00pm.
Languages: English Speaking Guide.
Others: Child Permission: 0-7 years is unsuitable for the trip.